| Preparation and negotiation key to home-selling success
The peak selling season is spring, says Elizabeth Razzi, author of The Fearless Home Seller (Stewart, Tabori & Chang). Here are some suggestions from Razzi's very useful book: ? Always get price estimates from three real estate agents. "Practice saying 'no thanks ...' to an inexperienced agent who just happens to be the son-in-law of your neighbor's best friend," Razzi advises. Ask how much of the task the real estate agent will delegate to assistants, and check as references the agent's three most recent clients. Find out exactly how the agent will market the home. You want your listing to be marketed aggressively, including to such Web sites as Realtor.com and Craigslist.com. ? When presented with a listing agreement, negotiate. Aim for a low commission and short time commitment.
South Africa's Mbeki Lays Goundwork for Stabilizing Zimbabwe
Last month, Southern African leaders appointed South African President Thabo Mbeki their mediator to facilitate talks between Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and opposition groups in his country. The goal is to end the political crisis in Zimbabwe, prepare for free and fair elections as early as next year, and lay the groundwork for an economic recovery program. In this report from our southern Africa bureau in Johannesburg, VOA's Delia Robertson takes a closer look at how the facilitation might work and what its chances of success are. .
Qualcomm-Nokia Patent Fight Heats Up
The cross-licensing agreement between Qualcomm and Nokia has caused a huge rift between the two companies as they continue to point fingers at each other. This long-drawn out battle seems to threaten the future of wireless technology, as the there are a colossal... .
Kony peace talks face triple challenge
Peace talks to end one of Africas longest wars, thought to have collapsed in January 2007, arent over yet. After two months of uncertainty, the parties the Ugandan government and the Lords Resistance Army (LRA ) agreed in principle to meet and resume negotiations. The pace quickened last week with two sets of informal talks. In Kenya, the two sides reportedly reached broad agreement on extending the landmark (and now expired) truce of August 2006; and in Ri-Kwangba camp in southern Sudan on 13-14 April, United Nations envoy met the LRAs elusive leader and Ugandas interior minister and top negotiator, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda.
Chissano, a former president of Mozambique, added his voice to the latest calls for an extension of the truce. It is my hope we will not leave this place without signing the documents which suspend hostilities, Reuters quoted Chissano as saying after he watched Kony and Rugunda shake hands.
GoSS- Kony Juba Talks Cost Shs(5)bill
The South Sudan mediated peace talks between the Uganda Government and the rebel Lord's Resistance Army have so far cost over US$3.2million (about shs5.4billion), officials have said.
It is projected that costs would soar in December to US$7 million (about shs11.9) making a total of Shs15.1 billion since the talks started last June. According to chief mediator, Dr Riek Machar about US$5.8million has been provided by several donors towards the facilitation of the negotiations mediated by the Government of Southern Sudan (GOSS) of which he is Vice President.
But the United Nations and Goss officials managing the basket fund have declined to give a comment on the cost of the expenditure arguing that they only make accountability to the contributing organisations.
"I am not authorized to discuss that with the media but all I know is that we have been contributing to our stay," the government peace delegation spokesman, Felix Kulayigye while LRA publicist, Olweny Obonyo referred Daily Monitor to their chairman, Mr.
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